There is no reason in the world why supporters of the true religion and the freedoms of the country and its privileges should accept that an agreement with the Spaniards or Malcontents (which means the same thing, because they are tarred with the same brush) is desirable. Whatever favourable conditions the Spaniards might put forward regarding freedom of religion and the army, these would not be observed for long. Patriots thinking to achieve a good and lasting peace by such an agreement, as is promised them, would in reality not only be led into eternal slavery and unrest but also into an open and difficult war against our allies, as the inhabitants of Hainault and Artois have experienced. For Holland and Zeeland, not the smallest but the mightiest and strongest provinces, have often warned the other provinces that they are firmly resolved never to be united with the Spaniards and their adherents.

There are people who may be made to believe that the united provinces could be transformed into a republic on the lines of the Swiss or Venetian. If possible and feasible, this would indeed be an excellent solution. Yet one should bear in mind that the nature of these provinces is wholly different from that of Switzerland and Venice.